Report: US Attorney To Open Inquiry Into Christie Bridge Scandal

The U.S. attorney in New Jersey will open a "preliminary inquiry" into the involvement of Gov. Chris Christie's (R) administration in closing lanes on the George Washington Bridge last year, the New York Times reported Thursday.

Paul Fishman, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, will announce the inquiry on Thursday morning, according to the Times.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey referred the case to the U.S. attorney's office, a law enforcement source told the Times.

Emails and text messages published by TPM Wednesday show that top Christie aides and appointees may have ordered the lane closures as political retribution for Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich (D), who did not endorse Christie in 2013.